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| gaunt_family [2025/08/02 08:20] – created xiaoer | gaunt_family [2025/08/14 23:38] (current) – xiaoer |
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| ======The Gaunt Family====== | ======The Gaunt Family====== |
| =====Introduction===== | =====Introduction===== |
| The **Gaunt family** was an ancient and once-wealthy [[Pure-blood]] wizarding family, notorious in their later years for their instability, poverty, and fanatical belief in [[blood purity]]. They were the last known direct descendants of [[Salazar Slytherin]], from whom they inherited the ability to speak [[Parseltongue]]. The family line is also descended from [[Cadmus Peverell]], one of the three brothers from //[[The Tales of Beedle the Bard]]// and the original owner of the [[Resurrection Stone]]. The Gaunts' obsession with their heritage led to generations of inbreeding, which resulted in mental instability and a decline in their magical abilities. They are primarily significant as the maternal ancestors of [[Lord Voldemort]], and their treasured heirlooms, [[Marvolo Gaunt's Ring]] and [[Slytherin's Locket]], became two of his [[Horcrux|Horcruxes]]. | The **Gaunt family** was an ancient, inbred, and fanatically **[[Pure-blood]]** wizarding family, notorious for their instability, violent tendencies, and penchant for grandeur despite living in abject poverty. They were the last known direct descendants of **[[Salazar Slytherin]]**, one of the founders of **[[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]]**. The family's ability to speak **[[Parseltongue]]** was their most cherished and jealously guarded proof of this lineage. The Gaunts played a pivotal, albeit tragic, role in the history of the wizarding world as the maternal ancestors of **[[Lord Voldemort]]**, and they were the original guardians of two immensely powerful magical objects: **[[Slytherin's Locket]]** and the **[[Resurrection Stone]]**. |
| =====Family History===== | =====Family History===== |
| The Gaunts prided themselves on being the direct descendants of [[Salazar Slytherin]], one of the founders of [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]]. For centuries, they maintained their [[blood purity]] by marrying their own cousins, a practice that eventually squandered their fortune and led to significant genetic and magical degradation. By the early 20th century, the family was reduced to living in a dilapidated shack in the woods near the [[Muggle]] village of [[Little Hangleton]]. | The Gaunts were descended from two legendary wizarding lines. Through their ancestor **[[Salazar Slytherin]]**, they inherited the rare ability of **[[Parseltongue]]**. They were also descendants of **[[Cadmus Peverell]]**, one of the three brothers from //The Tale of the Three Brothers// and the original owner of the **[[Resurrection Stone]]**, which was passed down through the generations set into a ring. |
| The last known members of the family were [[Marvolo Gaunt]] and his two children, [[Morfin Gaunt]] and [[Merope Gaunt]]. In the summer of 1925, they were visited by a [[Ministry of Magic]] official named [[Bob Ogden]], who was investigating Morfin's use of a [[jinx]] on a local [[Muggle]], [[Tom Riddle Sr.]]. The encounter revealed the family's squalid living conditions, their arrogance, and their violent nature. When Marvolo and Morfin attacked Ogden, they were both arrested and sentenced to [[Azkaban]]. | For centuries, the family practiced marrying their own cousins to keep their bloodline "pure." This tradition of inbreeding led to a significant decline in the family's fortunes, health, and sanity. By the 20th century, the once-wealthy family had squandered its gold, leaving its final members to live in a dilapidated shack near the village of **[[Little Hangleton]]**. |
| With her abusive father and brother imprisoned, [[Merope Gaunt]] was freed from her oppressive home life for the first time. Her magical abilities, previously suppressed by fear, flourished. She used a [[Love Potion]] to bewitch [[Tom Riddle Sr.]], the [[Muggle]] she was infatuated with, and they eloped. After becoming pregnant, Merope stopped administering the potion, believing he had genuinely fallen in love with her. He had not, and he promptly abandoned her and returned to his family in [[Little Hangleton]]. | The last generation consisted of the patriarch, **[[Marvolo Gaunt]]**, and his two children, **[[Morfin Gaunt]]** and **[[Merope Gaunt]]**. In 1925, they were visited by a **[[Ministry of Magic]]** official, **[[Bob Ogden]]**, regarding an attack by **[[Morfin]]** on a local **[[Muggle]]**, **[[Tom Riddle Sr.]]**. The encounter revealed the family's squalor, arrogance, and cruelty. **[[Marvolo]]** and **[[Morfin]]** were subsequently imprisoned in **[[Azkaban]]** for attacking **[[Ogden]]**. |
| Destitute and alone in [[London]], a pregnant Merope sold her one valuable possession, [[Slytherin's Locket]], to [[Caractacus Burke]] for a mere ten [[Galleon|Galleons]]. On New Year's Eve, she gave birth to a son at a [[Muggle]] orphanage, naming him [[Tom Marvolo Riddle]] before she died. | In her father's absence, **[[Merope]]**, who had been secretly infatuated with **[[Tom Riddle Sr.]]**, bewitched him, likely with a **[[Love Potion]]**. They eloped, but **[[Merope]]** eventually ceased giving him the potion, hoping he had genuinely fallen in love with her. He had not, and he abandoned his pregnant wife, returning to his family in **[[Little Hangleton]]**. Heartbroken and destitute, **[[Merope]]** sold her one priceless heirloom, **[[Slytherin's Locket]]**, to **[[Caractacus Burke]]** for a pittance. On December 31, 1926, she gave birth to a son at **[[Wool's Orphanage]]** in London, naming him **[[Tom Marvolo Riddle]]** before she died. |
| Years later, a teenaged [[Tom Riddle]] sought out his maternal family. He found his uncle, [[Morfin Gaunt]], living alone in the Gaunt shack. After learning the story of his parentage, Tom proceeded to the Riddle House, murdered his father and grandparents, and returned to the shack. He stole [[Marvolo Gaunt's Ring]] and modified Morfin's memory, causing his uncle to confess to the murders. Morfin was sent to [[Azkaban]], where he died, marking the end of the male Gaunt line. [[Lord Voldemort]] was the family's last descendant. | Years later, a teenage **[[Tom Marvolo Riddle]]** sought out his maternal relatives. He found only his uncle, **[[Morfin]]**, living in the squalid **[[Gaunt Shack]]**. From **[[Morfin]]**, **[[Tom]]** learned about his heritage. He then proceeded to the **[[Riddle House]]**, murdered his **[[Muggle]]** father and grandparents, and altered **[[Morfin]]**'s memory to make him confess to the crime. **[[Morfin Gaunt]]** died in **[[Azkaban]]**, and with the deaths of **[[Marvolo]]** and **[[Merope]]**, the Gaunt family name became extinct. |
| =====Family Traits and Characteristics===== | =====Shared Traits and Characteristics===== |
| Due to generations of inbreeding, the Gaunts developed distinct and unpleasant physical and personality traits. | * **Physical Appearance:** As a result of generations of inbreeding, the Gaunts, particularly **[[Marvolo]]** and **[[Morfin]]**, had brutish, "monkey-like" features with oddly proportioned bodies and eyes that faced in opposite directions. **[[Merope Gaunt]]** was described as plain, with lank hair and a face that was pale and heavy-featured. |
| * **Physical Appearance:** [[Marvolo Gaunt]] and [[Morfin Gaunt]] were described as having a "simian" or ape-like appearance, with dull eyes that often looked in opposite directions. [[Merope Gaunt]] was described as plain, with lank, lustreless hair and a pale, heavy-featured face. Her eyes, like her brother's, were slightly divergent. | * **Personality:** The Gaunts were characterized by an extreme and delusional pride in their **[[Pure-blood]]** status and their descent from **[[Slytherin]]**. This arrogance was coupled with a violent temper, a deep-seated hatred for **[[Muggles]]** and **[[Muggle-borns]]**, and significant mental instability. They were cruel and abusive, as seen in **[[Marvolo]]** and **[[Morfin]]**'s treatment of **[[Merope]]**. |
| * **Personality:** The Gaunts were characterized by immense arrogance, a violent temper, and delusions of grandeur based on their pure-blood ancestry. They held a deep-seated hatred for [[Muggle|Muggles]] and any witch or wizard they did not consider to be of pure blood. Despite living in filth and poverty, they viewed themselves as royalty. | * **Magical Heritage:** The Gaunts were all **[[Parselmouths]]**, a skill they valued above all else as proof of their lineage. Despite this rare talent, their general magical abilities seemed unremarkable by the time of the last generation. |
| =====Magical Abilities===== | =====Family Heirlooms===== |
| * **[[Parseltongue]]:** As direct descendants of [[Salazar Slytherin]], the Gaunts inherited the rare ability to speak to [[serpent|snakes]]. [[Morfin Gaunt]] was particularly fluent and often preferred speaking [[Parseltongue]] to English. | * **[[Marvolo Gaunt's Ring]]:** A heavy gold ring set with a black stone engraved with what **[[Marvolo]]** believed to be the **[[Peverell]]** coat of arms. The stone was, in fact, the **[[Resurrection Stone]]**, one of the three **[[Deathly Hallows]]**. The ring was passed down from **[[Cadmus Peverell]]** and was stolen by **[[Tom Riddle]]** from **[[Morfin]]**, who later turned it into a **[[Horcrux]]**. |
| * **General Magic:** The family's magical talent had noticeably waned over the centuries. [[Merope Gaunt]] was considered by her family to be almost a [[Squib]], though it is clear her magical ability was simply suppressed by years of abuse. The family's magical legacy was ultimately fulfilled by its final descendant, [[Lord Voldemort]], who became one of the most powerful [[Dark Wizard|Dark Wizards]] of all time. | * **[[Slytherin's Locket]]:** A heavy gold locket bearing an ornate, serpentine 'S'. It was an heirloom passed down from **[[Salazar Slytherin]]** himself. **[[Merope Gaunt]]** sold it to the shop **[[Borgin and Burkes]]** for ten **[[Galleons]]**. It was later purchased by **[[Hepzibah Smith]]** and subsequently stolen by **[[Lord Voldemort]]**, who also transformed it into a **[[Horcrux]]**. |
| =====Heirlooms and Possessions===== | =====Lineage and Key Descendants===== |
| The Gaunts possessed two priceless heirlooms which signified their dual ancestry from [[Salazar Slytherin]] and the [[Peverell family]]. | * **Ancestors:** **[[Salazar Slytherin]]** and **[[Cadmus Peverell]]**. |
| * **[[Marvolo Gaunt's Ring]]:** A gold ring set with a black stone engraved with the [[Peverell]] coat of arms. The stone was, in fact, the [[Resurrection Stone]], one of the three [[Deathly Hallows]], inherited from [[Cadmus Peverell]]. The ring was stolen by [[Lord Voldemort]] and turned into his second [[Horcrux]]. | * **Known Members:** |
| * **[[Slytherin's Locket]]:** A heavy gold locket bearing the mark of [[Salazar Slytherin]]—a serpentine 'S' inlaid with green stones. Merope sold the locket to [[Borgin and Burkes]]. It was later acquired by [[Hepzibah Smith]], from whom [[Lord Voldemort]] stole it to create another [[Horcrux]]. | * **[[Gormlaith Gaunt]]** (Pottermore) |
| | * **[[Corvinus Gaunt]]** (Pottermore) |
| | * **[[Marvolo Gaunt]]** |
| | * **[[Morfin Gaunt]]** |
| | * **[[Merope Gaunt]]** |
| | * **Key Descendant:** **[[Tom Marvolo Riddle]]** (**[[Lord Voldemort]]**) was the last direct descendant of the Gaunt family and the Slytherin line, through his mother, **[[Merope]]**. |
| | * **Distant Relations:** Through their shared ancestry with the **[[Peverell]]** brothers, the Gaunts are distantly related to the **[[Potter family]]**, including **[[Harry Potter]]**. |
| =====Etymology===== | =====Etymology===== |
| The surname **Gaunt** means to be excessively thin, lean, and haggard, especially as a result of suffering, hunger, or age. This is a fitting description of the family's physical appearance and their fall from wealth and prestige into utter destitution. | The word //gaunt// means "lean and haggard, especially because of suffering, hunger, or age" or "grim or desolate in appearance." This perfectly describes the physical appearance of the final members of the family, the squalid state of their home, and their miserable, hate-filled existence. |
| =====Behind the Scenes===== | =====Behind the Scenes===== |
| * The history of the Gaunt family is a central element of the plot in //[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]//, providing crucial insight into [[Lord Voldemort]]'s origins and motivations. | * The history of the Gaunt family is revealed primarily in //Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince// through memories that **[[Albus Dumbledore]]** shows **[[Harry Potter]]** in the **[[Pensieve]]**. |
| * J.K. Rowling explained on the Pottermore website that the Gaunts' descent from both [[Salazar Slytherin]] and [[Cadmus Peverell]] was the result of the two ancient wizarding families intermarrying at some point in their history. (Pottermore) | * In the film adaptation of //Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince//, only the memory of **[[Dumbledore]]**'s first meeting with a young **[[Tom Riddle]]** at the orphanage is shown. The memories involving the Gaunts, including **[[Bob Ogden]]**'s visit and **[[Tom Riddle]]**'s meeting with **[[Morfin]]**, were omitted. (film) |
| * In the film adaptation of *//Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince//*, the memory of [[Bob Ogden]]'s visit to the Gaunt shack is omitted. The family's story is instead relayed through exposition by [[Albus Dumbledore]] and a brief, stylized visual of Merope and [[Tom Riddle Sr.]]. (film) | * Further family history, including the story of **[[Gormlaith Gaunt]]** and her connection to the founding of the American wizarding school **[[Ilvermorny]]**, was detailed on the **[[Pottermore]]** website. (Pottermore) |
